DOMESTIC HIGHER DEGREE RESEARCH CANDIDATURE AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORM

***THIS FORM IS FOR AUSTRALIAN AND NZ CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS ONLY**

**International applicants, please contact CDU Global on international@cdu.edu.au or see the international Apply for a Higher Degree by Research | Charles Darwin University (cdu.edu.au) webpage for details on how to apply **

NOTE: Applications for HDR admission may take up to a month to process. 

This  Higher Degree Research Candidature and Scholarship Application Form should be completed by potential domestic students wishing to apply for:

• Higher Degree Research (HDR)  courses (Doctor of Philosophy; Masters by Research); and/or 

• HDR Stipend Scholarships

Please note that Domestic candidates who apply and are accepted into an HDR course will receive a Domestic RTP Fee Offset.  Only Stipend (living allowance) Scholarships require a Scholarship application. 

Please attach the following documents for your application (starred * items must be certified/notarised) :

• Proof of Citizenship*: A copy of your current passport, birth certificate or your residency visa.

• Change of Name *(if applicable): Documentary evidence of your change of name.

• Previous Qualification Documentation*: A copy of your official transcript(s) and certificate(s) for all previous tertiary study. Must include GPA and grading system.

• Evidence of Supervision: Evidence that at least one CDU academic staff member has agreed to supervise your research, such as email communication with your proposed primary supervisor.

• English Language Proficiency All CDU students must demonstrate English language proficiency through prior studies in English, approved English tests or other evidence as per the English Language Proficiency Policy / Governance Document Library. An application for admission will not be accepted unless evidence of English language proficiency has been provided.

• Research Outline: all applications must be accompanied by a brief research outline (1500-1700 words or 3-4 pages) on the proposed research project.  Your outline should include: your name, supervisor name, project title; general field of research; proposed principal supervisor; brief description including research aims, methods, timeline; your capacity in the current methods and training you might need in the proposed methods, ethical considerations (animal or human ethics); whether there are any intellectual property considerations; resource implications including basic budget items, lab work requirements or other expenses etc; any field work or travel requirements; and any other relevant issues to the research. Please discuss this with your agreed supervisor before submission.

• Referee Report: Please nominate two people on your application who can testify to your academic achievements. If you completed a thesis your thesis supervisor should be one of your referees. Please contact your referees prior to lodging your application and request that they complete the HDR Referee Report form. It is mandatory to process your application. 

• Curriculum Vitae: Please attach a copy of your current CV, including publications (full reference with author names), research work experience, and qualifications

• Publication details: Please include links to digital copies of any publications or digital copies of publications and provide evidence of peer review if relevant

• Other: Please attach any other relevant documentation to support your application (e.g. Portfolios, letter from employer regarding your research-related employment etc.)
  

• **This form is only to be completed by Australian or New Zealand citizens or Permanent Residents. International applicants contact international@cdu.edu.au for how to apply or see our international webpage Apply for a Higher Degree by Research | Charles Darwin University (cdu.edu.au) for how to apply**

• All relevant answers must be completed. 

• Ensure choose the correct application option: Candidature only; Candidature & Scholarship; or Scholarship only (for candidates who are currently enrolled or have already received an offer).

• Please select "Candidature only" if you are applying for a PhD by Prior Publication.

• Progress on this form can be saved and completed at a later stage.

• When selecting 'save and continue later', a link can be emailed to you, that enables you to return to complete the form. 

• Please review the checklist at the end of this form carefully to ensure the application is complete. This will assist with a more timely processing of your application.

• Ensure that all supporting documentation outlined above is attached to the application. There is an option to attach documents at the end of this form.

• Once you submit the application, the application form and all applicable attachments will automatically be sent to research.degrees@cdu.edu.au in PDF format. A copy of the application will also be emailed to your email address provided in the form.

Further Queries

For queries about the application process, or difficulties using the form, please email research.degrees@cdu.edu.au.

More Information on terminology please visit this site: Australia's First Peoples 

If 'yes', please contact our Student Access and Inclusion Office to discuss support options.

Contact at least one proposed supervisor before you submit this application. To contact prospective supervisors, please visit our Find a Supervisor page. Applications will not proceed without evidence of confirmation of supervision from any registered CDU supervisor.

Please attach an outline of your proposed research.  This proposal should comprise 1000 to 2000 words and

• include your name, supervisor name and project title

• briefly review the literature to justify the research question and project

• outline the methodology and methods that will be implemented

• discuss the feasibility of this project, such as timelines, costs of resources, and ethical concerns

• For transfer students - please include a section about the work and any milestones already completed and what is left to be done

• include a list of references or bibliography

 Refer to the Proposed Research Project Outline PDF below for more details: Proposed Research Project Outline Template_0.pdf

If you are currently studying, please provide the details as requested below:

If you want to transfer master or doctoral research candidature from another institution, please provide details as requested below, including any milestones you have already completed that relate to your proposed CDU HDR project:

If yes, please provide details as requested below:

As per CDU's English Language Proficiency Policy / Governance Document Library, all applicants must demonstrate English Language Proficiency for admission into an HDR course. Proficiency evidence must be provided at the time of applicant AND must be current at the time of commencement. Delays in commencement may necessitate a reassessment of this requirement. 

Applicants can demonstrate English language proficiency using the following evidence:

1. Approved English language test results
   

2. Evidence of past studies in English from approved countries Evidence of successful completion of at least two years full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE), including an official testamur plus academic transcript/s and evidence of english as medium of instruction where required
   

Applicants who cannot demonstrate proficiency using the above methods should discuss with their proposed supervisors whether to complete an approved test or request an exception.

Please note:Applications for Stipend Scholarships can only be submitted during the advertised application period. All applications outside the advertised application period will be assessed for candidature only. Applications for Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships have closed for 2025 and if you wish to apply for a RTP Scholarship then you will have to wait until the next advertised round. Please refer to the HDR Scholarship website for future scholarship availability.

If yes, please provide the below information:

If yes, please provide details:

To be eligible to enrol in a Higher Degree by Research, you must have successfully completed research activity at an Honours or postgraduate level.  Alternatively, you may have completed equivalent activities, such as published scholarly research.  To learn more about these criteria, read the HDR Admissions Policy.

Previous Qualifications

Please click "add item" to include all qualifications. Please begin with your most recent qualification.

Research Experience

In the following space, list the units or courses in which you completed research activities during an Honours or postgraduate degree, such as wrote a research proposal, collected data, analysed data, and wrote a thesis.  Also, list the units or courses in which you learned about qualitative or quantitative research methods, such as a unit about statistics.  Estimate the number of semesters of research activity you have completed after your Bachelor degree.  For example: supposed you completed an Honours or Graduate Diploma degree in one-year, full time, suppose that half this course was dedicated to a thesis, you would, therefore, have completed one semester of research activity.

Employment History

If you have accrued other research experience that demonstrate your research capabilities, such as worked as a research assistant or lecturer, please outline this experience here and provide the following details on your CV: 

• the years in which you undertook these roles and the approximate number of works each week;

• the organizations in which undertook these roles; and

• your main responsibilities, such as wrote grant applications or analysed data.
  

Research Outputs

In the first column of the following table, list outputs from research you have conducted either at university or in other settings.  List up to 6 of your best outputs.  Include:

• scholarly journal articles

• scholarly books

• full conference papers

• chapters in a research book

• patents or computer software

• major creative works, such as a novel, play, or movie

• art exhibitions

In the second column, briefly describe your role, that is, the main activities you completed. 

All applicants MUST have two referee reports. The university will not request reports on your behalf.

• Applicants for Doctoral and Master by Research candidature and/or Postgraduate Scholarship are required to nominate two Referees who are prepared to support their application(s). These Referees must be familiar with the applicant’s academic achievements and research background. It is recommended that one referee be the supervisor of your most recent tertiary program.

• Please provide contact details of your referees on this application form.

• You must also ask them to submit their written reports directly to the University via the HDR Referee Report Form.

The University collects the information in this form to

• ensure that enrolled students will receive the education, training, and facilities they need

• administer schemes of financial or other assistance to enrolled students

• compile or report statistics

• fulfill other purposes

The University will not disclose the information you collect in this form to third parties except to other educational institutions or government bodies, as required or authorised by law or in accordance with our Privacy Policy.  You may obtain access to the information the University maintains about you by contacting the Privacy Officer on (08) 8946 6666.

I declare my responses in this form is true, accurate and complete. I am aware that providing false or misleading information is a serious offence under the Criminal Code (Commonwealth).

I consent to

• the University contacting the educational institutions I attended or other named individuals on this form to verify my answers

• the University collecting, storing, and disclosing information I provided on this form to relevant authorities

I understand that Charles Darwin University reserves the right to vary or reverse any Offer of Admission based on incorrect or incomplete information.  Communicating false or misleading information is a serious offence under the Criminal Code (Commonwealth

Please complete the checklist below and ensure you have supplied the required documentation: